Peace Corps Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship Program
Peace Corps Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
The Chicago School welcomes returned Peace Corps Volunteers of all ages to apply to our M.A. International Psychology program. We are proud to partner with Peace Corps Fellows and help them leverage the skills they have developed during their service.
The Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program is a graduate fellowship program that offers financial assistance to returned Peace Corps Volunteers. Since the inception of the Coverdell Fellows Program, nearly 4,000 returned Volunteers have participated in the program and made a difference across the country.
Graduates of our M.A. International Psychology program are prepared to excel as leaders, sensitive to cultural differences, and prepared to promote social justice in an increasingly globalized world. Through the M.A. International Psychology program, Fellows complete our unique, hands-on International Field Experience course. This experience provides Coverdell Fellows with opportunities to expand their cultural competence, increase their emotional intelligence, and develop interventions for domestic and global contexts.
Coverdell Fellows also complete their required Peace Corps internship in collaboration with our Community Partnerships Office. Through this office, The Chicago School creates a bridge between our institution and the local and global communities in which we reside. This bridge supports students, faculty, staff and community partners in the quest to create reciprocal learning, inspiration, engagement and service, resulting in a transformational experience for all.
Please see examples of our Community Based Research Projects.
Coverdell Fellows receive a waiver on our application fee in addition to 10% tuition waiver towards their M.A. International Psychology degree. Fellows are also eligible to apply for a wide range of FWS and Volunteer Positions, and Service Learning opportunities through the Office of Community Partnerships. The Chicago School is committed to enrolling a diverse and outstanding student body. We offer several scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 each academic year. Scholarships are awarded based on a variety of criteria including, but not limited, to financial need, academic excellence, mission based, and community involvement and service.
- Coverdell Fellows receive a 10% tuition scholarship reducing the cost of tuition. Current tuition rates can be found here. Application Fee waiver ($50)
- Eligibility to apply for university-wide graduate fellowships, scholarships, and assistantships. Please see Fellowships and Scholarships.
Awards are available to admitted students who have completed the full two-year tour of Peace Corps service, or the full tour minus up to 90 days, if returned home on an emergency leave; have been granted an “Early Close of Service” or an “Interrupted Service” due to circumstances beyond the Volunteer’s control; or have been medically separated as a Volunteer.
This program is available to all Peace Corps applicants to the M.A. International Psychology degree program, and there is no limit to the number of awards available each year. Applicants will be considered for additional merit-based awards based on the strength of their application, and will remain eligible to apply for need-based financial aid.
For more information about this partnership, contact Viviane deCastro Pecanha, PhD